Sol Duc Hot Springs; a Road Not Taken?

Thursday

Aug 10, 2017 at 12:01 AMAug 13, 2017 at 6:49 PM

Dawny G

I have mentioned before that my travel blog is based on journals I keep when I travel. When I took this trip to the Olympic Peninsula, I was struggling with back and knee problems. I open this post with that information for a few reasons. We've reached the point in the trip where I am not with the hiking group very much. We've reached the point in the trip where I realize this may be my last hiking trip.

Our guide tells me she's a little concerned about me on the Lovers Lane hike. It's not a steep hike but it requires that you watch your feet every second--rough terrain with lots of roots and rocks.

I spend the morning tending to a few little blisters and feeling slightly ill. The 5th consecutive day of anxiety about what I can and can't do is taking it's toll. While people are making their lunches, I'm worrying about what I should do. Linda kindly puts together a sandwich for me.

We get the vans to a parking lot where all the hikers take off---but not I. I head down to Sol Duc resort and lodge, which has hot springs. Hot springs are supposed to be a source of soothing and healing for aching muscles, sore bodies. This is where one of the hikes"the shorter Lovers Lane hike"will end.

Hot mineral springs like the these generally form close to volcanic craters. The sulfur and other minerals supposedly have many benefits: good for your skin, can lower blood pressure, ease asthma symptoms, soothe arthritis discomfort (now we're talkin'?) and reduce stress, among other things.

The three pools are different depths and temperatures: one is just about eight inches deep and 99 F (37C). The two other pools are both about three feet deep; one is about 101F (38C) and the other is about 104F.

According to Native American legend, battling dragons created the Sol Duc Hot Springs. The monstrous creatures lived in separate valleys, neither aware of the other. One day they were exploring their respective terrains (turns out they overlapped?) and a fight followed.

The vicious battle didn't resolve the territorial claims, but the injuries did create the valley, destroying trees on the surrounding mountains, scattering boulders. The fighters' flayed skin created the rainforest features of moss and lichen. Ultimately, the dragons retreated to their homes and wept. The hot tears they cried formed Sol Duc and Olympic hot springs.

Sol Duc Hot SpringsWith this legend in mind, I check out the springs"smell like fart to me. I check out the lodge. I check out the store. I have checked everything there is to check and there is no way I'm going to just sit in the stinky mineral pools for a few hours, no matter how soothing they might be. No way.

If you'd like to see some images of the road not taken, please visit https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7002050 .# # #